Well also look and see if you can apply for more than one to combine and increase your benefits. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. New and relevant evidence can be used not only in filing a claim, but also to appeal a negative decision, or to reopen an old claim. You may be owed compensation. impossible. In fact, over two million veterans suffer from nerve damage. Total disability based on individual unemployability, or TDIU, is a monthly benefit available to veterans who are prevented from working due to their service-connected disability or disabilities. To qualify for the next level up, you need to meet all the criteria of one category. along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back The skilled attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you navigate it. It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or pushed on from a disc. The veteran has constant, severe pain in his lower back because of the radiculopathy affecting his ability to function on a daily basis. This compression or 'pinching' of the spinal nerve root is what is known as radiculopathy. In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. However, a few years after he was granted service connection, he was diagnosed with radiculopathy of his lower extremities due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. Since your brain and spinal cord connect to your entire body through your nerves, any part of your body can have pain or go numb when a nerve in your back is pinched. Those with cervical radiculopathy will be rated within the upper radicular group, middle radicular group, and lower radicular group which include the musculospiral nerve, median nerve, axillary nerve, the musculocutaneous nerve, the long thoracic nerve, and the ulnar nerve. Lay evidence can include the veterans own statements, as well as statements from family members, attesting to the frequency of flare-ups, daily challenges, measures needed to manage the symptoms, loss of sleep, loss of alertness, etc. Sciatica most often occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched, typically by a herniated disk in the spine or an overgrowth of bone on the vertebrae. Incomplete, severe The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. Movement can be restricted not only because of pain in your neck but moving a certain way can make you lose feeling in your hands. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8520, Neuritis of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8620, Neuralgia of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8720, Issues with the VA Rating System for Sciatica, Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick For Help with Your Sciatica Benefits, Sciatica VA Disability Claims and Ratings, Top 20 VA Disability Claims and Their Ratings, 10 Most Common Disabilities for Veterans and How Theyre Rated. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. You can have crepitation in any joint. Veterans may be able to claim not only service-connected disability benefits but also secondary service-connection that the Department of Veterans Affairs might have missed. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. This is the rarest form which means it is also the least diagnosed. Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial. Incomplete paralysis can be determined as severe, moderately severe, moderate, or mild with disability ratings as low as 10 percent. Radiculopathy Disability for Veterans When the bones in your back lose their cushioning, they rub together and may pinch a nerve. It causes symptoms that spread out from the back down 1 or both legs. Neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (sciatica). With the exception of severe incomplete paralysis, there are no specific symptoms listed in the rating criteria that veterans must have to receive a rating of mild, moderate, or moderately severe sciatica. The VA can order a clarification from the examiner, or even order a new exam with a different examiner. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. To be eligible for VA disability benefits for sciatica, you must first prove that your condition is the result of your time in the military service. Do You Have a Service Connection With Sciatica? Such veterans that suffer from sciatica may be eligible forVA disability benefitsif they can prove that their issue is a result of their time spent in the service. Back Pain VA Rating: A Guide to Spinal Injuries - Hill & Ponton, P.A. The back pain is rated separately, so you could have a 40% rating on your back, 20% on your right let and 10% on your left leg which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. By using the information weve provided you with, you should understand what needs to be measured and recorded for a proper diagnosis. You could be eligible for up to $3,345 per month In SSDI Benefits Check Eligibility For many people, sciatica can be treated effectively and the symptoms resolve. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? than moderate, even if it is considered severe. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is the least common type. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. All Rights Reserved. While you should tell the C&P Exam doctor every detail of your symptoms and even bring a written account of when you had symptoms over the past year, there is a time to be quiet. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. If your sciatica is severe, you may also have to take an orthopedic exam. When radiculopathy occurs in the lower back, it is known as lumbar radiculopathy, also referred to as sciatica because nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are often involved. VA Rating for Peripheral Neuropathy - Hill & Ponton, P.A. Since you are agitating the vertebrae in the middle of your back, this can get you when you are standing or sitting. Click HERE to read now. For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. If you tough it out and move a little extra, you can keep going on that patrol in Iraq. All clinician . Our certified VA Disability lawyer team works with doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists to work through your claim and make sure every inch is covered. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Rating nerve conditions also involves identifying the nerve involved. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. After an exam, vets and witnesses should promptly memorialize their experience, and date their notes. Lower back pinched nerves are the most common type and even have sub-classes of diagnoses. sensation and severe loss of reflexes, your rating will be categorized under Im not saying you should be a wimp and fake it, but you should be honest with the doctor about where the pain starts. The VA may award service-connected disability benefits for conditions that arose before the time of active duty but worsened during it. When it comes to requesting benefits from the VA, sciatic nerve conditions such as sciatica are ranked in three different categories established on the degree of severity of symptoms. Obtaining VA Disability for Radiculopathy. given based on how severe, moderately severe or extremely severe a condition This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Your flexion for the thoracic and lumbar areas are grouped together into the Thoracolumbar tests. If youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases. Keep in mind that a VA rating for radiculopathy is normally determined as a secondary condition, contingent on another spinal disability. through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Once youve understood which category your condition falls into, determine the level of severity of the symptoms by looking at the loss of function it causes you. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. You're not alone. I served during peace timein theArmy. Think of the three classifications like levels. Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. Radiculopathy is a "pinched nerve." Essentially, the spine pinches the root of the nerve. you viewed to avoid repetition. As we mentioned earlier, sciatica is caused by the irritation of the roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine, which can result from several physical activities. When a VA examination is scheduled, the claimant must cooperate by reporting for the examination. Notably, symptoms are serious pain, numbness, and tingling. For direct service connection, you should prove the three elements: Once youre diagnosed with sciatica or a related issue, its time to file aVA disability claimfor VA benefits. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim sciatica, you will want to make sure that you are given the right rating in This could offer a veteran a 60 percent disability rating for their sciatic nerve condition. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? level of pain either when they are sitting or standing, Sometime when one has These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. If the condition causes severe symptoms, it is it is rated 20%. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. VA disability ratings for Sciatica fall under one of the following codes from eCFR, Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Code 8520: Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. In many cases, sciatica is the result of a ruptured intervertebral disk,an injury, or narrowing of the spinal canal that applies pressure on the nerve. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Lumbar Radiculopathy. Nerve damage can be difficult to deal with and often leads to a decrease in What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? For radiculopathy specifically, youll be rated on neurological symptoms. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Incomplete, mild paralysis is Sciatica and Your VA Disability Claim | CCK Law Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. Other key evidence may include a medical experts professional opinion that the service-connected condition (low back strain, for example) caused the radiculopathythus indicating a secondary service-connected disability. While we still have our home base in Florida, Underfederal law, a preexisting condition is presumed aggravated if that condition: A veteran need not show that a certain incident during service aggravated the disabilityonly that it became worse during service. But for others, compression of the sciatic nerve causes lumbar radiculopathy weakness and loss of feeling in the legs. Specifically, the veteran's radiculopathy affects the veteran's sciatic nerve. You also bend backward just a little bit, but not much. you viewed to avoid repetition. Tingling from the spinal area outward into the hips, legs, The cervical spine, conveying sensation to the neck and arm muscles, The thoracic or middle spine, conveying sensation to the chest, midsection, and ab muscles, Was noted in the service persons entrance examination, Got worse during the persons time of service, as shown by medical records such as a comparison of reports on the veterans disability before and during, or soon after, service, Worsened more in service than it would have worsened outside of service. your symptoms. He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. Often we have clients with 20% ratings for back disabilities who could qualify for higher ratings for their serious impairments. However, in rare circumstances, veterans can experience bilateral sciatica. Even if you already have achieved the service connection or the 10% rating for back pain, you can still get help from us to increase your rating or double-check your effective date. The angle of your flexion for your cervical and thoracolumbar spine areas determines what your rating will be. In addition to secondary service connection, veterans may also be able to seek service connection through aggravation. when the sciatic nerve is irritated. They are also more likely to be ruled Permanent and Total, which means you dont have to go back and re-apply and risk losing your benefits every 5-10 years. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on May 7, 2020 by Mike Woods Last Updated on September 6, 2022. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. The pinched nerve can cause pain and discomfort for veterans who experience it, and the pain is often experienced as numbness, tingling, or weakness. In mild cases, symptoms but not significant impairments exist. That will bring in about $165.92 a month based on the current VA rating schedule. Radiculopathy is a broad diagnosis for the symptoms from a pinched nerve root at the spinal column base. If your mom remembers a before and after, have her talk to our staff to write up a lay statement to back your case. Developed new symptoms? The rating for incomplete paralysis is Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). It is possible to prove service-connection for radiculopathy. Different groups will have different diagnostic codes. Once the regional office (RO) issues its determination, the veteran has a year to file an appeal. TDIU can be awarded on a schedular or extraschedular basis. also known as sciatica, is not exclusive to one type of injury or condition. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. This leaves room for many different interpretations and inconsistencies between the Regional Offices, Board of Veterans Affairs judges, and more. To understand this condition, it helps to understand the parts of the spine: Vertebrae. Symptoms that are experienced when one is They fought hard for me and got me more than I ever could dream of. However, the criteria listed here can also be subjective. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] 20%. Vets who receive a mailed notice should attend the exam to avoid a claim being denied. If they make you unable to work or conduct a normal life, tell them. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. Support your beliefs with professional medical records before and after service to demonstrate that you didnt suffer from back pain until after your time in service. Back injuries and various musculoskeletal Call today. VA outlines TDIU regulations under 38 CFR 4.16. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. Perhaps you had no secondary conditions when you first filed your claim, but a condition showed up later. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Secondary conditions develop as a result of an underlying condition or injury. your nerves, will also be tested. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. This is when the nerve cannot function at all. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. If you think you may be suffering from sciatica, but youve never visited the doctor about it, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest to you to make an appointment. This Firm is So Good at what they do! In your physical exam, a health professional will look at your spinal range of motion, your balance, and posture. pain will be categorized under neuralgia. The moderate nerve rating changes based on the specific nerve. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Also, explain what you cant do because of that numbness. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Sciatica (Lumbar or Sacral Radiculopathy) | Michigan Medicine Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006